What about dogs

My child minder has a dog that is allowed near the kids but never left alone. I was made aware of this when I was looking into and have no problem with it as we have 4 cats. I think it does the kids good!

@Her0utdoors.
Thsts sounds cruel

I used a cm with 2 terriers. They were kept in a bedroom all day. I assume her dh must have let the out for the toilet, she worked from 7am to 6.30pm and wouldn't let them use the garden for the toilet.
It definitely put some potential clients off, and they certainly weren't quiet dogs.

The childminders I have known with dogs have been successful because their dogs are impeccably behaved - including retired sniffer dogs, retired assistance dogs etc.

I would actively look for a childminder like that because I would want my children to be comfortable around dogs (assuming I didn't have any dogs at home - which I do).

Not quite the same but I foster and have a dog, so do lots of other foster parents. I have to have a Safer Dog plan (I have chickens and have to have a plan for them too) and I ensure I never leave the children and the dog alone together, if I leave the room either the dog or the children come with me.

My family pays more for 3 days dog sitting of one dog than they pay me for their child.

@jannier

Doggy daycare tends to be at a lower rate than dogwalking in terms of cost-over-time. Typically, in my area, a dog walking session averages around £12 for (theoretically) for an hour's walk. A full day’s care (complete with constant fun and frolics, if the website’s are to be believed) cost £25, and includes two walks. But what I see of these self-styled 'professional' dog walkers makes me highly skeptical about what their clients are actually getting for their money.

@TOtallyFuckedUpFamily

Even if doggy daycare costs as little as £25 a day, it’s still going to eat into a childminder's earning. Most people (including many childminders)seriously over-estimate how much a childminder earns. This is because they do a crude calculation of hours worked x number of children x £per hour, with little regard for costs, unpaid hours worked, hours done below capacity, unpaid holidays, lack of employment benefits, and other important factors.

@T0tallyFuckedUpFamily.....dog sitters and walkers charge £20 for an hours dog walking per dog. They are paid far more than a childminder who gets £4 to £5 an hour.
My dog loved being around me and the children and had his own space to go to.

I think it would be unfair to the dogs to have small children in and out of the house. One option is to book the dogs into doggy daycare, during working hours. Let’s face it, you don’t have to pay as much for doggy daycare, as you do for a childminder, so you’ll still make a profit. The dogs should come home happy and tired, if booked with the right person.

My DC’s childminder had up to 3 dogs and loads of other animals (cat, guinea pigs, rabbits, fish) and I looked on it as a benefit to get the kids used to animals. The CM was brilliant with kids and animals, I was not concerned about safety and had no reason to be. My DD went there from age 2, at which time the CM always fully supervised any contact with the pets. My DD continued to go to the CM until she was 11, and by then she did a lot of pet care (her choice, she loves animals) and even took one of the dogs for walks by herself.

"No you cannot do this. Too many risks."

@NoMorePoliticsPlease

I don’t see how you can make this assertion, as it is contrary to all the evidence. Lots of childminders operate with dogs, and childcare/education providers of all types have various pets/animals, all of which come with some degree of risk.

Many activities and aspects of a childcare environment come with an attached risk. Ofsted are aware of this and do not expect providers to remove risks altogether. But they do take account of how a provider assesses and deals with risks of all kinds.

Even a childminder who doesn’t own a dog needs to be mindful of the risks they can present (and how they might deal with it) when out and about with-the children. So it’s unrealistic to have a simple "no you can’t" rule.

I was a childminder with a Labrador puppy. It didn’t stop anyone using me and was seen as a positive by the families I worked with. That said it was the first thing I mentioned when someone contacted me just in case it was a problem. I had a robust policy of how I would manage the children and the dog and it worked well on both sides.

Op. Don't forget you also have to evidence and demonstrate food hygiene to a high standard....that means food prep facilities being spotlessly clean with no dog access

I love dogs. More than people.

I actually wouldn't want a CM with a dog. I think they would have to show me very clearly how they managed the situation. I see people let kids do all sorts to dogs - pulling them about etc and unless I knew the temperament of the animal in question it would worry me. Certain breeds I wouldn't entertain - I have an elderly very laid back dog that has never even growled ay anyone and I let him sleep next to DS's bed but I know him.

Would it be fair to the dogs? Would they cope with it? What are they OP?

No you cannot do this, too many risks

I used a childminder with a dog for my oldest DS it was an older lab who was the softest thing ever. It had it’s own space to retreat to in her utility area and it’s own run outside, she had a very large garden. She childminded with her grown up daughter so no risk of the dog and children being left on their own. They did walk the dog to and from school when they did pick ups, the rest of it’s walks were done by her DH away from the children.
A childminder with small yappy dogs, I wouldn’t be keen. Being truthful I would think that if you hadn’t put in the time to train your dogs not to bark madly when people came to your door that you hadn’t trained them well in other ways.

@itsaboojum

The flip side is that other people will see animals as a positive draw or learning experience,

Not where I live. I knew a childminder from our school. She had dogs and struggled to get any business. Only time she did was when others were full and the kids tended to get moved. She didn't realise until she asked someone who was a friend and she gave her honest feedback about it.

It’s not necessarily a disadvantage: from what I’ve seen, it’s more a 'swings and roundabouts' thing.

Certainly some people will be put off, and some families will be downright excluded, by the presence of dogs. The flip side is that other people will see animals as a positive draw or learning experience, if you can show they are well-managed.

From what I understand you will be questioned by the OFSTED inspector about how you keep the children safe and that includes from the dogs. No dog can ever be totally trusted.

What you may find an issue is that many parents won't use you as a childminder if you have dogs so you may be at a disadvantage gaining clientele unless your prices are a lot cheaper than others and even then it is an issue..certainly around where we live anyway

@jannier I say it from experience, though obviously I can neither condemn nor endorse anyone who's posted here. I can only comment on the basis of settings I’ve worked alongside.

@itsaboojum.
Why do you say that? Is it experience or just some idea you have?
My dog was specifically chosen to help people who feared dogs, lots of research before we selected him, then lots of training. If an emergency happened...I would say go bed he would go and shut the gate behind him...auto shut gate that would self lock once it started to swing.
He was the softest thing out trained to drop and role over for children and on command but i would never be complacent ever. I find the suggestion that i would effectively lie about how i acted with my dog odd i take the care and safety of every child very seriously not only could it be life changing for them but i could be out of work out of my home and up in court why would anyone think I'd risk that?
I totally get a dog is not everyone's choice but am not happy about the implication that a cm with a dog is going to lie.
Would you use a cm who didn't have a dog?

When it comes to dogs, I think some childcare providers write one thing in their policy and do things somewhat differently in reality. It’s the one policy area where I’ve regularly had cause to doubt. Not just childminders, but group settings too.

I would stress that it comes down to the individual provider: I’m not suggesting you can’t trust any childcare provider to manage their dogs.

A childminder with dogs wouldn't bother me as long as I was reassured about how this is managed. So dogs never left alone with children etc

I would also want to know about the temperament of the dogs and I agree with the PP that said that small, yappy dogs would be far more off putting that a big lab or collie who tend to be much more docile and chilled out.